Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
In this inspiring--and true--picture book biography, a disabled West African kid proves that nothing is unachievable by biking 400 miles across Ghana.
Yeboah's story--which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey--is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people--but not his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school over two miles each way; learned to play soccer; left home at age 13 to provide for his family; and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing 400 miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled through organizations and scholarship funds. Thompson's lyrical prose and Qualls's bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity.